Transporters in J-K call off strike over fuel price hike

Srinagar, June 13 : Four-day strike over fuel price hike called by the transporters in Jammu and Kashmir has been called off following a deal with the government on raising passenger fares.

The strike was called off after the State Government agreed to a 14 per cent hike in passenger fares.

"The Government has assured us that the passenger tax will be taken back. 8.4 per cent service charge on insurance will be abolished and the welfare tax levied on us of 100 rupees per month, per car will be withdrawn. The government also assured us that the fares will be reviewed in the first week of April," said S.Wazir, president of the state's transport association.

Residents and tourists took a sigh of relief.

"For the last four days due to this strike, we faced a lot of problems. I am happy that the government has sorted it out through discussions," said Fayaz Ahmed, a resident.

The fares in Kashmir have not been revised since 2005 while the oil prices have increased manifold during the period.

The transporters say the recent hike in oil prices has burdened them with losses.

The government had announced the increase in the prices of petrol and diesel by about 10 per cent and of a cylinder of cooking gas by 17 per cent, the biggest hike in fuel prices in 12 years.